Americans too confident in personal health

A recent report from Aflac showed that a large portion of Americans are confident they won't get seriously ill, even though unpredictable things can occur.

The 2012 Aflac WorkForces Report showed that 62 percent of employed Americans don't think it is likely that they will develop a serious illness such as cancer. In addition, another 55 percent said that they weren't too worried about developing a chronic illness. However, if they do come down with an illness that wasn't expected, close to 60 percent said they would need to use savings to pay the bills, while close to one in five would need to tap into retirement plans.

"Now, more than ever, people need to understand that well-being means more than just good health - it's being prepared for the reality of whatever life may bring and taking the necessary measures to protect themselves and their families," said Audrey Boone Tillman, executive vice president of Corporate Services at Aflac.

Those Americans concerned about their personal health may want to look at health insurance rates that are affordable. This could benefit them significantly in the long run, especially if they fall ill.